Chopping block: Use more volunteers at TDCJ

A reader writes: As a TDCJ Volunteer, I get to see a lot in prisons. I interact with staff as well as both male/female inmates.
If I would cut anything it would be in Administration:

1. Chaplains-limit the amount and house more Volunteers, who really do the work… we can complete forms and file reports

2. Wardens- Only have 1 Warden (no paid assistants)- Use Volunteers

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The Texas Department of Criminal Justice houses 121 chaplains, which are assigned to each facility and help with recruitment and training efforts for volunteers.

The agency’s budget for the chaplains stands at about $4.8 million per year, which includes salaries, administrative costs and travel expenses.

“It’s an invaluable service they provide to inmates and staff,” said Michelle Lyons, a TDCJ spokeswoman. They counsel volunteers, staff, inmates and their families, she said.

In Texas’ 112 facilities — which house about 156,000 inmates — each has a senior warden and an assistant warden.

For large facilities, TDCJ employs more assistant wardens. In the Polunsky Unit, where death row inmates are housed, the agency has one senior warden and two assistant wardens — one for the general population and one for the death row inmates. Also, in smaller units, one senior warden can be supervise two or more facilities.

Lyons said it was not feasible to use volunteers for every position below senior warden because volunteers would lack the appropriate training for the job.